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An Evaluation of Health Equality Policies in Vermont
Dougherty, Anya
Dougherty, Anya
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Sexual and gender minority individuals face significant barriers to healthcare, including higher rates of mental and physical health concerns, stigma around coming out, lack of education among healthcare professionals, unequal treatment, and explicit bias. Using Minority Stress Theory as a framework, this study evaluated the inclusivity of hospital policies in Vermont by assessing publicly available non-discrimination, patient bill of rights, and visitation policies across all 15 hospitals in the state. The analysis applied criteria adapted from the Human Rights Campaign’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). Results revealed that the average hospital score was 75%, with grades ranging from A to F. All hospitals had inclusive visitation policies, but only slightly more than half included sexual or gender identity in their non-discrimination policies. One-third mentioned gender identity in the patient bill of rights, and fewer than half referenced sexual orientation. These findings underscore the importance of clear, visible inclusivity in hospital policies in order to reduce patient anxiety and improve healthcare engagement for queer populations. Hospital administrators are at the forefront of policy and must move beyond passive statements and implement active, concrete measures—such as inclusive language, gender-neutral facilities, affirming symbols on websites, and policy audits informed by queer community input. By embedding inclusivity into policy and practice, hospitals can better serve queer patients and help mitigate health disparities across the region.
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2025-01-01
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HCOL_FINAL.pdf
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